Highly-coveted free agent center DeAndre Jordan spurned the Los Angeles Clippers to join the Dallas Mavericks, and in the process, he killed any hope the Clippers had of winning an NBA championship.

Jordan’s decision to bolt for Dallas has to leave the Clippers organization quite dumbfounded. Doc Rivers and company did everything in their power to sweeten the pot for Jordan. First, Los Angeles traded for defensive-minded shooting guard Lance Stephenson, which added depth to the backcourt. Then they went out and signed veteran Paul Pierce, who fills the Clippers’ void at small forward.

Despite the team’s efforts, Jordan just wasn’t impressed. He turned down a 5-year, $109 million contract offer from Los Angeles to ink a 4-year, $80 million deal with the Mavericks.

It appears as though Jordan simply didn’t want to play third fiddle to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin any longer. Instead, he decided to go to a team with a little less star power, but also a smaller chance to contend for a title.

Now the Clippers are forced to sit back and wonder about what could’ve been. All the right pieces were in place, except probably another serviceable big man off the bench. Had Jordan returned to Los Angeles, the Clippers would arguably have been a top-3 team in the Western Conference.

Without Jordan, the Clippers are still a playoff team, but most likely won’t contend for a championship unless they make a move for a solid starting center.

This has to be heartbreaking for a franchise that has worked hard to be a contender this offseason. Who would’ve thought Jordan meant so much to the Clippers?

Brandon Austin is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @BMoreThanGreat, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.